Superintendent News

January 18, 2013

I would like to thank the North Tama Board of Education for approving the grade 7-12 one to one (1:1) computer initiative. This decision may be one of the most important decisions this board will make in terms of improving our students' education. Research indicates using technology as a learning tool does positively impact student achievement. Also, the staff and board realize our children today have grown up in the technology age and it has become apparent we must adapt our teaching methods to our current students learning needs.

The 2013 Iowa Legislative session will get under way January 14. It is imperative that both political parties work together for the common cause of our children. If we are going to be able to initiate real school reform in Iowa we must demand that our Governor and our Legislators provide the resources of time and additional money for K-12 education. Other states and countries have done so now its time for Iowa to follow through.

Any decision to repurpose the existing funding streams must be done while collaborating with school leaders and school board members before a plan is finalized. Please contact our legislators and tell them North Tama School needs 4% allowable growth funding for the 2013 - 2014 school year and 4% allowable growth funding for the 2014 -2015 school year. The State of Iowa must return to the days when they properly funded Iowa's schools. Over the past decade the state has failed to do so reducing school funding by more than 17%. How many businesses would be able to survive the drastic financial cuts our schools have had to endure? State revenues are up which indicates the State of Iowa can afford to increase funding for Iowa's schools. The more allowable growth our school receives from the state means lower tax rates for local taxpayers. Please contact our elected officials and tell them as taxpayers we expect them to do the right thing and properly fund Iowa's schools. Iowa's future rests in the hands of our youth.